Calatrasi

The history of a dream which turns into reality in Sicily
with vineyards capable of producing 276 different varieties of grapes and from
which are being produced modern wines with the richness of an ancient land

The story of Calatrasi winery - located at San Cipirello, few kilometers south
from Palermo, Sicily - born by the intuition of a physician who, after a
journey in California, realizes his land, Sicily, would have been capable of
offering the same. That physician is Dr. Maurizio Miccichè, today passionate
viticulturist and owner of one of the most important wineries of Sicily.
Everything originated after a journey in California where he learns about the
managerial methods of wine making: an union of enology, viticulture and
marketing which convinces him to do same in his land. That was how in 1985
Maurizio Miccichè decided to start in the Valle dello Jato a winery near the one
of his father, with the aim of making a consumer friendly wine, capable
of giving emotions to the senses of consumers. That dream did not end in Sicily,
and soon after those concepts and that way of making wine, was extended in
Apulia and in Tunisia as well, where today Calatrasi winery owns domains and
vineyards.

Dr. Maurizio Miccichè, chairman of
Calatrasi

Calatrasi winery was established in 1980 by Giuseppe and Maurizio Miccichè
brothers - who inherited from their father the passion for the world of wine -
who started one of the most dynamic wineries of Sicily, and their wines are now
renowned both in Italy and in other countries of the world. The winery's
headquarter is located at San Cipirello, south from Palermo - among the green
hills of Valle dello Jato - with an acreage of 25,000 square meters, a bottling
system producing 12,000 bottles per hour and a cellar with 4,000 barriques of
French and American oak, producing about 8,000,000 bottles per year. Thanks to
the expansion which took place from 1986 on - an investment on technology and
qualified personnel - Calatrasi winery had in 2004 a total income of 13 millions
of euros and distributing its wine in more than 22 countries in the world while
becoming one of the most important wineries of Sicily.

The project has been expanded, going beyond the borders of Sicily and arrived in
Apulia and Tunisia. The family estates are all located in Sicily at
Campofiorito, with 264 hectares near Corleone, at Campo della Ginestra, 100
hectares between Cipirello and Piana degli Albanesi and, finally, at Mazara del
Vallo with vineyards of 150 hectares. In the estates located in Sicily are being
cultivated both autochthonous varieties - such as Catarratto, Grillo and Nero
d'Avola - as well as international varieties such as Viognier, Chardonnay,
Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The estates in Apulia are located in the
Salento area, with a fermentation cellar and 240 hectares of vineyards
cultivated with Primitivo, Negroamaro, Syrah and Merlot grapes. The estate in
Tunisia, called Domaine Neferis, is located between Tunis and Hammamet, has a
cellar, a bottling plant and 200 hectares of vineyards cultivated with
Carignan, Grenache Noir, Cinsaut, Syrah and Chardonnay grapes.

Domaine Neferis in Tunisia

With these premises born the project of Calatrasi winery, the one of realizing
a cosmopolitan winery, not only in the richness of vineyards and of
laboratories in which are being cultivated 276 different varieties of grapes,
but also in the team of experts who work in the winery. Calatrasi is in fact
supported by a team of expert agronomists and wine makers from many countries of
the world, therefore becoming a pioneer of a new culture in the
production of wine, where the ancient tradition of Sicily and south Italy offers
its cultural heritage to advanced technology, meeting what is today called the
taste of the new world. It is the will of realizing such a project which
ensured Calatrasi the support of important wine professionals, such as Tamra
Washington - in charge of wine production and wine quality control - the
talented New Zealander wine maker who graduated in Wine and Vinification Science
at Lincoln University, Canterbury (New Zealand), who then acquired experience in
vinification and fermentation of wines in New Zealand, United States of America
and Australia.

Maurizio Miccichè's goal is to make quality wines capable of satisfying the need
of a higher and higher number of consumers interested in the beverage of
Bacchus. The productive and commercial philosophy of Calatrasi is summarized by
Miccichè's words: «Even the ones who do not know anything about olfactory
sensations and consistency, in front of a good glass no one should feel like an
ignorant. Knowing the history of Charlemagne in order to recognize a French wine
should not be necessary. We do not have noble titles to sell, we are happy not
to have a catalog with elite products. We try our best in order to make a
beverage which can be enjoyed with pleasure, offered at reasonable prices,
ranging from 5 to 20 euros. We are ambassadors of a new south: this is how we
want to introduce ourselves». A commercial philosophy which brought Calatrasi to
sell its wines in every region of Italy, as well as in Germany, Belgium,
Switzerland, England, Tunisia, Canada, Japan, Finland, Sweden, Russia, Poland,
Turkey, Norway, United States of America, France, Denmark, Netherlands, Austria,
Australia, Brazil, India and Ireland. Cosmopolitan, even in distribution.

Calatrasi's wine show in the glass their convincing quality, wines capable of
attracting the senses of consumers, also thanks to the successful union between
tradition and innovation. Of particular interest are the wines of the
D'Istinto range, such as Magnifico d'Istinto - produced with Cabernet
Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Syrah grapes - as well as the interesting and very
good Ljetas d'Istinto, a pleasing white produced with Catarratto, Chardonnay and
Viognier grapes. Also good the wines of the historical Terre di
Ginestra range, in particular the ones belonging to the 651 branding,
produced with grapes cultivated in vineyards at 651 meters of altitude. From the
vineyards most exposed to the sun of Sicily, are being produced the wines of the
Accademia del Sole range, with Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
grapes. Wines produced in the estates of Apulia are commercialized with the
Allora branding, currently made of two wines produced with 100%
Primitivo and Negroamaro grapes. Finally, in Tunisia are being produced two
wines - both belonging to the Selian range, the ancient name of Sahara
desert - produced with Carignan and Syrah grapes.

Score legend

Fair Pretty Good Good Very Good Excellent Wine that excels in its category Good value winePrices are to be considered as indicative. Prices may vary according to the countryor the shop where wines are bought

Accademia del Sole Viognier 2004

Calatrasi (Sicily, Italy)

Grapes: Viognier

Price: € 7.60

Score:

The wine shows a pale straw yellow color and nuances of greenish yellow,
very transparent. The nose reveals intense, clean, pleasing and refined
aromas which start with hints of peach and elder followed by aromas of
acacia, pineapple, banana, litchi, apple and pear. The mouth has good
correspondence to the nose, a crisp attack and however balanced by alcohol,
good body, intense flavors, agreeable. The finish is persistent with
flavors of peach, pineapple and pear. This Viognier ferments and ages in
barrique.

Food Match: Roasted white meat, Roasted fish, Fish soups

Ljetas d'Istinto 2004

Calatrasi (Sicily, Italy)

Grapes: Catarratto, Chardonnay, Viognier

Price: € 4.80

Score:

This wine shows a brilliant greenish yellow color and nuances of greenish
yellow, very transparent. The nose reveals intense, clean, pleasing and
refined aromas which start with hints of banana and pear followed by aromas
of acacia, pineapple, hawthorn, apple and peach. The mouth has good
correspondence to the nose, a crisp attack and however balanced by alcohol,
good body, intense flavors, agreeable. The finish is persistent with
flavors of peach, pineapple and pear.

Terre di Ginestra Catarratto 2004

Calatrasi (Sicily, Italy)

Grapes: Catarratto

Price: € 7.20

Score:

The wine shows a brilliant greenish yellow color and nuances of greenish
yellow, very transparent. The nose reveals intense, clean, pleasing and
refined aromas which start with hints of pear, apple and broom followed by
aromas of pineapple, hawthorn, orange blossom, chamomile, lemon, peach and
plum. The mouth has good correspondence to the nose, a crisp attack and
however balanced by alcohol, good body, intense flavors, agreeable. The
finish is persistent with flavors of pear, peach and plum, This Catarratto
ages for a short period in barrique.

Sidi Salem Carignan Selian 2003

Calatrasi (Sicily, Italy)

Grapes: Carignan

Price: € 11.50

Score:

The wine shows a brilliant ruby red color and nuances of ruby red, moderate
transparency. The nose reveals intense, clean and pleasing aromas which
start with hints of cherry and blackberry followed by aromas of plum,
vanilla, tobacco, rose and walnut husk. The mouth has good correspondence
to the nose, a slightly tannic attack and pleasing crispness, however
balanced by alcohol, good body, intense flavors. The finish is persistent
with flavors of cherry and plum. Carignan Selian ages for 8 months in
barrique.

Food Match: Broiled meat, Roasted meat, Hard cheese

Terre di Ginestra 651 2002

Calatrasi (Sicily, Italy)

Grapes: Nero d'Avola, Syrah

Price: € 14.40

Score:

The wine shows an intense ruby red color and nuances of ruby red, little
transparency. The nose denotes intense, clean, pleasing and refined aromas
which start with hints of black cherry, plum and blackberry followed by
aromas of violet, vanilla, carob, licorice, tobacco, mace, pink pepper and
menthol. The mouth has good correspondence to the nose, a tannic attack and
however balanced by alcohol, good body, intense flavors, agreeable. The
finish is persistent with flavors of black cherry, plum and blackberry. A
well made wine. Terre di Ginestra 651 ages for 8 months in barrique
followed by 3 months of aging in bottle.

Food Match: Roasted meat, Stewed and braised meat, Hard cheese

Magnifico d'Istinto 2002

Calatrasi (Sicily, Italy)

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Verdot

Price: € 15.60

Score:

This wine shows an intense ruby red color and nuances of ruby red, little
transparency. The nose reveals intense, clean, pleasing, refined and
elegant aromas which start with hints of black currant, plum and black
cherry followed by aromas of blackberry, violet, vanilla, carob, licorice,
tobacco, mace, black pepper and menthol. The mouth has good correspondence
to the nose, a tannic attack and however balanced by alcohol, full body,
intense flavors. The finish is persistent with flavors of black cherry,
plum and black currant. A well made wine. Magnifico d'Istinto ages for
12-18 months in barrique followed by 3 months of aging in bottle.

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